The Moment of Truth

1965

1h 50m

Drama

List

80%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

92%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

An unemployed youth's desperate search for a job leads him to the dangerous world of professional bullfighting.

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Never have I got such a message of the cruelty of the sport as is conveyed in this film, which owes much of its excitement to superb color photography.

Rated: 4.5/5

Jan 23, 2012

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Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Francesco Rosi's 1965 feature is widely (and plausibly) considered the best movie about bullfighting, in part because of its irony and finesse in capturing how the sport springs from and plays against the social reality of Spain.

Jan 23, 2012

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

It's a colourful, cruel world of senseless exploitation (of animals and humans alike) and tyrannical traditions, rendered with vivid brilliance by this uncommonly unsentimental director.

Jan 23, 2012

Full Review

Pauline Kael

LIFE

[Rosi's] intentions were overwhelmingly achieved, and the savagery of his view of that bullfighting culture was so strong that several times I grabbed the arm of my companion -- a film director -- for support.

Apr 19, 2022

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Arguably the greatest bullfighting movie ever made.

Mar 9, 2012

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The best film on bullfighting.

Rated: A

Mar 6, 2012

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Audience Member

Stunning, rich Technicolor cinematography along with lush landscapes create a dreamy, hypnotic atmosphere for a rather simple story about a bullfighter eager to move up the ranks under the direction of some spectator businessmen. Completely authentic scenery, yet the story doesn't allow for much dimension in the characters, so it feels like a news story at times. Great for a once thru. 3 out of 5

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Stark, unnerving comment on bullfighting.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Read and comment on my review at http://bit.ly/zLi8Lx

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Francesco Rosi

Director

Miguel Mateo Miguelin

Miguel Romero

José Gómez Sevillano

Manager

Pedro Basauri Pedrucho

Self

Linda Christian

Linda

Curro Carmona

Actor

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Synopsis

An unemployed youth's desperate search for a job leads him to the dangerous world of professional bullfighting.

Director: Francesco Rosi
Screenwriter: Francesco Rosi, Ricardo Muñoz Suay, Pere Portabella, Pedro Beltrán
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (DVD): Jan 24, 2012
Runtime: 1h 50m